I interpreted what I thought God was saying to me as a call to the ministry. A few men had allowed me to preach for them when they were away from their churches. A semester internship for pastoral students in college introduced me to ministry. I thought I was ready to serve. One late August Sunday evening, I sat on the church steps twenty-five miles from home. I was hoping the people from a small congregation would call me as their pastor. I did not realize how limited my understanding of pastoral leadership was.

My best time to meet with God is in the early morning. That is the quietest time with the least interruptions. For that time to work, I needed to change when I went to bed. Going to bed earlier helps me get up earlier. I search for a quiet place to get still with God.

“Plan your work. Work your plan.” Two simple sentences with wise words. But you may ask, “How do I plan my work?” Let’s consider several questions in creating a plan that will define the life and work of our Lord in our congregations.